School Safety & Security Is Everyone's Responsibility

Dear Panther Partners:

At a recent conference, a new superintendent asked me what I believed was the greatest change in educational leadership since I began serving as a superintendent 22 years ago. My answer came quickly. Twenty-two years ago, much of my focus was on instructional leadership and improving student achievement. While those priorities remain essential today, my greatest responsibility is ensuring every student and staff member has a safe, secure environment to learn, work, and grow.

School safety and security have become increasingly complex responsibilities for public schools. Keeping our schools safe requires more than locked doors and security cameras. It requires thoughtful planning, ongoing training, strong relationships, effective communication, and a commitment to continuous improvement.  We take a proactive and comprehensive approach to school safety. Our district safety team meets to review emergency response plans, evaluate procedures, coordinate training, and identify opportunities for improvement. We utilize ALICE principles to guide age-appropriate safety training for students and staff, helping them understand how to respond in an emergency.

We are also fortunate to have strong partnerships with local law enforcement, including a dedicated School Resource Officer who provides valuable insight into prevention, planning, and response. Over the years, the district has made significant investments in safety and security systems, including technology and artificial intelligence designed to help detect, deter, and respond to potential threats. Our new elementary/middle school entrance provides an additional layer of security by strengthening how visitors enter and access our schools. While these investments and practices are important, one of our greatest safety resources is the relationships we build with students, families, and our community.

We encourage parents and guardians to have conversations with their children about school safety. Ask them what they have learned during safety training, how they would respond in an emergency, and whom they would contact if something concerned them. Most importantly, reinforce a simple but powerful message: If you see something or hear something, inform school or law enforcement officials.

We would always rather investigate a concern that turns out to be nothing than miss an opportunity to prevent something serious. When students, families, and community members share information, we can assess concerns and respond appropriately. The district also participates in Safe+Sound Iowa, a statewide program that provides students, families, and community members with a way to anonymously report safety concerns 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

As we enter the fall hunting season, I also want to remind families about the importance of keeping weapons, including toy or look-alike weapons, away from school. Items that resemble weapons can create fear, confusion, and potentially dangerous situations, even when there is no intent to cause harm. These situations are taken seriously and addressed in accordance with district policies and safety procedures.

I also want families to understand our approach to communicating safety concerns. Not every reported concern represents an actual threat to students or staff. Each situation is evaluated based on the information available, its credibility, and the potential risk to school safety. When a credible threat or situation warrants broader notification, we will communicate with families as appropriate. At the same time, we recognize that communicating every unsubstantiated report or incident can create unnecessary anxiety and diminish the significance of important safety notifications. Our goal is to communicate responsibly, accurately, and in a manner that maintains the trust and confidence of our families.

Ultimately, school safety is a shared responsibility. Our staff must be prepared, our students must feel comfortable speaking up, and our families and community members must remain engaged partners. Together, we can create a culture in which safety is not simply a procedure, but a commitment we make to one another. At Creston, we call that Creston Cares. We care enough to build relationships. We care enough to have high expectations. We care enough to support students when they struggle. We care enough to challenge them to grow. And we care enough to make sure every child knows:  You are seen. You are heard. You matter.

That is the Public Education Promise. And we carry it together.

Creston Cares,

Deron Stender, Superintendent